PACKAGE holidays to the popular Mediterranean islands, Majorca and Malta, are set for a flying start from Southampton International Airport.

Major high street operator Airtours Holidays will inaugurate a season of flights from the city next year as part of the airport's rapidly growing route network.

A widespread campaign promoting the services, backed by the airport and the company, is about to be launched in the region among travel agents.

Southampton International is now widely recognised as the main aviation gateway for domestic and continental European destinations for the south's business community.

These new flights are part of the airport's policy of offering a limited number of holiday services to local customers.

For the first time, Airtours will offer a weekly service from Southampton to Palma, Majorca and a full summer schedule to Malta, from May 2002.

An Airtours sales and aviation team recently visited Southampton International to exchange ideas with the airport operators and to build upon their new partnership.

Airtours Holidays' aviation manager Laura Sykes said: "We are extremely pleased to be able to offer flights to new destinations from this very accessible and modern airport.

"Airtours feels sure its customers will prefer to start their holidays here at Southampton in a comfortable, stress-free environment.''

Majorca flights will begin operating on Friday, May 3, 2002, using Air Europa's new Boeing 737-800 aircraft for the two-hour flight to Palma.

Direct services to Malta will take off every Tuesday, beginning May 7 next year, and will be operated by a B737-300 aircraft from Air Malta.

Southampton International is on course to reach the one million passenger mark next year.

The number of customers passing through the airport's terminal during 2000 reached a record level of 866,700 - registering a 13 per cent growth.